Sharks in the streets of Brisbane!

INTERNATIONAL PAPERS, Thurs., 13/1/2011: We start with the Australian front pages as the country battles severe floods – some stories are shocking such as sightings of sharks in the streets of Brisbane! Also, a bizarre statement from an ultra-orthodox rabbi and a hairy solution to Belgium’s political crisis…

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Brisbane is under water and Australia’s front pages are all dedicated to Queensland’s severe floods. We take a look at the front page of the Daily Telegraph (Sydney) and The Australian. Also: sharks in the streets of Brisbane! The Sydney Morning Herald reports terrifying sightings of sharks swimming around shops in Ipswich, a suburb to the west of Brisbane. The 3newswebsite is one of many media reporting on another bizarre story – a frog who caught a ride on a snake’s back in the midst of the floods! And finally, The Brisbane Times reports on worries of food – and beer! – shortages because of the flooding.

The Times of London leads with an interview given by French Prime Minister François Fillon to the paper’s Paris correspondent, Charles Bremner. Fillon says he will call on Britain to help the EU. France will urge Britain today to back deeper European integration in order to save the euro, otherwise Britain could face catastrophe if the euro fails, Fillon will warn. The Times response is pretty predictable: “One Big Non!” The editorial is staunchly against Britain integrating any further into the EU. “By staying out of the euro, Britain has retained control of interest rates and the flexibility to weather the financial crisis.”

As a bilingual Franco-American, she enjoys explaining everything French to an Anglophone audience…as well as scanning papers from around the world for quirky articles and unique analysis pieces.

DHEEPTHIKA LAURENTJournalist, Press Reviewer

An Australian at heart with Indian origins, Dheepthika has been at FRANCE 24 since 2012. She loves browsing through the papers with a special soft spot for anything Aussie and anything that takes us out of the mundane.

HAXIE MEYERS-BELKIN Presenter

A Londoner born and bred, Haxie joined FRANCE 24 in 2013 and hasn't looked back. She's covered everything from international affairs to culture, but enjoys nothing more than sifting through the papers to find the most insightful articles and scathing cartoons of the day.